Senior Research Scientist in Regina

The University of Regina is a public research university with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship, graduate education, and research that addresses local, national, and global challenges. The University is located in Regina, Saskatchewan, a mid-sized and increasingly diverse city in the Canadian Prairies. The University of Regina and its federated colleges are on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories, the homelands of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda peoples and the Métis/Michif Nation.

The Senior Research Scientist will support the Canada Impact+ Research Chair and lead the translation of advanced sensing materials and devices into integrated, field-deployable turnkey environmental sensing systems enabled by artificial intelligence (AI). The incumbent will lead and coordinate multidisciplinary research and development (R&D), funding strategy and proposal development, research infrastructure planning, program and project management, laboratory validation and field deployment, regulatory compliance, intellectual property (IP) strategy and protection, and knowledge mobilization. The incumbent will also conduct outreach to and develop partnerships with industry, government, research institutions, Indigenous communities and organizations, other community stakeholders, end users, and prospective commercialization partners. The incumbent will support the creation and growth of a University of Regina spin-off company to commercialize technologies and products arising from the Hub’s research and will train and mentor highly qualified personnel (HQP).

Responsibilities

• Develop funding strategies and lead the preparation of research, infrastructure, commercialization, and innovation funding proposals for submission to federal and provincial programs and industry partners.
• Lead the end-to-end development of turnkey environmental sensing systems, including translating end-user needs into system requirements, architectures, technical specifications, interfaces, development roadmaps, and verification and validation plans.
• Monitor and assess emerging scientific and technological developments, applicable standards and regulations, and market trends in environmental sensing, quantum sensing, advanced materials, AI-enabled sensing systems, and related fields.
• Lead the development, fabrication, and characterization of thin-film and nanomaterial-based chemical sensors, including gas sensors.
• Create and review device layouts and fabrication drawings, and coordinate mechanical design using appropriate computer-aided design (CAD) and device-layout tools.
• Lead laboratory validation, field deployment, performance evaluation, data analysis, documentation, troubleshooting, and iterative improvement of turnkey sensing systems.
• Plan and deliver product and technology demonstrations for academic researchers, industry and government representatives, community partners, and prospective commercialization partners.
• Coordinate product compliance, regulatory approvals, certification, quality assurance, research security, export controls, laboratory safety, and related risk management activities.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with industry, government, research institutions, funding organizations, and other end users.
• Prepare technical reports, white papers, peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, conference papers, invention disclosures, and patent support materials.
• Lead regular technical and program management meetings; document decisions, action items, risks, milestones, budgets, and deliverables.
• Support the establishment and growth of a University of Regina spin-off company arising from the Chair’s research program.
• Co-organize and co-host an annual conference, workshop, or industry engagement event at the University of Regina related to environmental intelligence and turnkey sensing systems.
• Develop, coordinate, and deliver public, community, and youth outreach initiatives related to the Environmental Intelligence Hub’s research and societal impacts.
• Develop and maintain robust technical, regulatory, quality, financial, grant, intellectual property (IP), and project management documentation.
• Manage project plans, schedules, budgets, technical risks, external vendors, subcontractors, deliverables, and reporting requirements across multidisciplinary projects.
• Provide technical leadership; support the recruitment and onboarding of students, postdoctoral researchers, research associates, and technical personnel.

Position Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in engineering, applied science, materials science, physics, or a closely related discipline.
• At least four (4) years of relevant industry research and development experience in sensor systems, advanced materials, or a closely related field in engineering or applied science.
• Demonstrated experience developing and characterizing thin-film or nanomaterial-based sensors.
• Substantial hands-on experience in cleanroom micro- and nanofabrication.
• Demonstrated experience translating advanced sensing technologies from component-or-device-level research into integrated prototypes or field-deployable systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating multidisciplinary, cross-functional research and development projects.
• Demonstrated proficiency in scientific programming, modelling, simulation, and data analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in sensor systems, micro-and nanofabrication, photonics, microfluidics, advanced materials, or a closely related field.
• Experience training or mentoring students, postdoctoral researchers, research associates, engineers, or technical personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Postdoctoral research experience in engineering, applied science, materials science, physics, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience spanning academic research and industry.
• Experience with regulatory compliance, product certification, quality assurance, research security, export controls.
• Experience integrating sensing hardware with data analytics tools, IoT platforms, APIs, embedded AI.
• Experience applying and evaluating AI systems in STEM contexts.
• Experience using CAD or device-layout software.
• Experience with budget management, procurement, vendor and subcontractor coordination.
• Commitment to respectful, reciprocal, and community-led engagement with Indigenous partners.
• Experience coordinating multi-institutional or international research collaborations.
• Experience developing and delivering public, community, youth, or media outreach initiatives.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

Eligibility and Employment Preference

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

Conditions of Employment

• Able to comply with applicable University policies and federal and provincial laws.
• Able to work safely in cleanroom, laboratory, and field environments.
• Willing and able to work occasional evenings or weekends.
• Willing and able to undertake fieldwork and domestic and international work-related travel.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or be willing to obtain one within six months of joining.

Documents Required

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Reference Contact Info
• Research Interests/Projects